Convertible boat hull

Abstract

A boat hull comprises a central hull having top and bottom portions and first and second side hulls slidably supported from the top portion of the central hull so as to be transversely extendable relative thereto. The bottom portion of the central hull is rotatably connected to the top portion so as to be movable between raised and lowered positions. A method of reconfiguring the boat hull comprises slidably displacing first and second side hulls relative to a central hull and rotatably displacing a bottom portion of the central hull relative to a top portion from a raised position to a lowered position between the first and second side hulls.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A boat hull comprising:
 a central hull having top and bottom portions; and 
 first and second side hulls slidably supported from said top portion of said central hull so as to be transversely extendable relative thereto; wherein 
 said bottom portion of said central hull is rotatably connected to said top portion so as to be movable between raised and lowered positions, and wherein 
 said central hull and said first and second side hulls form a continuous wetted running surface thereunder. 
 
     
     
       2. The boat hull of  claim 1  wherein said first and second side hulls are positioned outside said bottom portion of said central hull at said lowered position. 
     
     
       3. The boat hull of  claim 1  wherein said bottom portion of said central hull is nested within said first and second side hulls at said raised position. 
     
     
       4. The boat hull of  claim 1  further comprising at least one actuator for extending said first and second side hulls relative to said central hull. 
     
     
       5. The boat hull of  claim 1  wherein said bottom portion of said central hull is rotatable relative to said top portion about an axis. 
     
     
       6. The boat hull of  claim 5  wherein said axis is horizontal. 
     
     
       7. The boat hull of  claim 6  wherein said axis is located proximate to a leading edge of said bottom portion. 
     
     
       8. The boat hull of  claim 1  wherein said bottom portion has an angular orientation relative to horizontal greater at said lowered position than at said raised position. 
     
     
       9. The boat hull of  claim 1  further comprising an actuator for extending said bottom portion between said raised and lowered positions. 
     
     
       10. The boat hull of  claim 1  wherein said bottom portion is abuttable against and alignable with said first and second side hulls such that a bottom running surface of said bottom portion is continuous with corresponding bottom running surfaces of said side hulls at said lowered position. 
     
     
       11. The boat hull of  claim 1  wherein said bottom portion of said central hull is positionable at an intermediate position between said raised and lowered positions. 
     
     
       12. The boat hull of  claim 11  wherein said bottom portion is abuttable against and alignable with said first and second side hulls at said intermediate position so as to form a continuous bottom running surface therebetween. 
     
     
       13. The boat hull of  claim 1  further comprising a motor and drive assembly supported on said bottom portion of said central hull. 
     
     
       14. A method of reconfiguring a boat hull comprising:
 providing a central hull having top and bottom portions; 
 providing first and second side hulls slidably supported from said top portion of said central hull so as to be transversely extendable relative thereto; wherein 
 said bottom portion of said central hull is rotatably connected to said top portion so as to be movable between raised and lowered positions, and wherein 
 said central hull and said first and second side hulls form a continuous wetted running surface thereunder. 
 
     
     
       15. A method of reconfiguring a boat hull comprising:
 slidably displacing first and second side hulls relative to a central hull; and 
 rotatably displacing a bottom portion of said central hull relative to a top portion from a raised position to a lowered position between said first and second side hulls, wherein 
 said central hull and said first and second side hulls form a continuous wetted running surface thereunder.